Ethan, 5, and Owen, 4, were abducted by their father Christopher Cadenbach Saturday. An AMBER Alert was issued and police located the children shot to death by Cadenbach at Cliff Cave Park.

“We got a text from my sister, the kids’ mother, saying please get to St. Anthony’s Hospital. The boys have been shot,” said Sarah Sartorious, the boys’ aunt of the moment they learned the worst had happened. “We just lost it. We’re in disbelief, shock, can’t believe this would happen to our family.

Sartorious describes the boys as fun loving, good kids. Pictures show the two always with a smile on their faces. Neighbors and family members say their father was loving man, always attentive with his kids, often outside playing with them. Bikes and baseball gloves sit outside the family’s Washington, Mo. house.

“Their dad was actually a very good dad to them, we’re just in disbelief about why he would do this,” said Sartorious.

But police paint a different picture. Investigators were looking for Cadenbach on Saturday to arrest him on a warrant for domestic violence against his wife. The only criminal record Cadenbach has is for traffic violations.

Police could not located Cadenbach on Saturday. He was with his boys and his mother when he got a call from his wife. Cadenbach then told his mother he “wasn’t going to be taken alive,” taking off with the children and setting off the AMBER Alert.

At Sunday night’s vigil in Fenton, the family wanted to remember the good times. Most recently Halloween night, trick or treating with Ethan and Owen. The two were dressed as superheroes.

“They loved super heroes, we’re all actually going to dress as superheroes to their funeral,” said Sartorious.

Funeral arraignments are still pending. The family has set up a GoFundMe account to pay for expenses.

Ethan was a kindergarten student at Washington West Elementary and Owen was in pre-kindergarten at the Early Learning Center. The school district superintendent said both locations will have additional counseling staff on hand for students and staff.

“Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers as well as the students and staff that worked, played, and learned with these two beautiful children every day,” said Dr. Lori VanLeer, superintendent of Washington School District said in a letter to parents.